Lifting device



J. C. G. SPELLER LIFTING DEVICE Oct. 11, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sneec 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1.947

Y MM flfform ys Oct. 11, 1949. J. c. G. SPl ELLER LIFTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sneet 2 Fild Sept. 26, 1947 J. C. G. SPELLER LIFTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 rw w Maw? Patented Oct. 11, 1949 ()FFI GE sameness .LIETING DEVICE John Charles George Speller, Kenton, England, \assignorftoEaling Studioslaimited, Ealing, Lon- :don, England Application September 26, 1947., Serial No. .776f2'9'3 In Great Britain June19, I947 15 Claims.

This invention relates to lifting devicesxand is eminently uitable for lifting fiat and relatively 'high articles which have to be transferred from one place to another such for example as film sets and the like which areplacedina temporary position'and then have to be transported to another position. The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting device which is simple in construction, easily movablaand byone person.

In order that the invention may b'etmoreqeasily understood andreadily put into'practice, an embodiment thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to "the accompanying drawingstin which- Figure l shows a perspective :view :(if :the de- 'viee,

Figure 2--shows aside elevation'ot fiigure 1,

Figure 3 shows anendzelevati'on-fofFigure 1,

Figure 4-shows a plan viewof athe'device, and

Figures 5a, :5b, 5c: and 25d tsh'ow tfragmentar-y views of the resting, first lift and maXimumfl-ift positions of the lifting bar.

Ref-erring to'il 'igures lite-14,. the framework xiomprises-a base i, bulltupJfromanglebars,:riveted, welded or-otherwise secured togethehof substan- 'tially triangular shape in plan. Suitably secured to the :apex 2 of 'the base "are a :pair ao'f :an'gle members sflt. .These mernbersiare bent, asshown :in the drawing, so "that the member .3 may *be secured to one.corner'fitoftheibase and the mem- .b'er to the cornerffiithereof. The upperendof the Bfr-am ework isstrengthenedbyfa plate?! which :also constitutes :a hearing for a 'pivot pin 18 ".for a lever 9. Further bracing. members I may'also be providedso'that .-a strong, *rigid and compara- .tively:light'framework'may'be constructed. Castors EH are suitably :mounted on the iframework sovthat' the -.liitingrdevice is .made mobile.

The lever 9, as ihereinbeforestated "is "pivoted .to the framework on the pivot pin Bandtheiront :end of the lever'isfpivoted (at 8.20 to'aichannel sectionliftingibar 4Z2, the :otheriend Jcarryingea .counterweightit. Atits loweriend the-lifting bar 412 :is formed with guide :slots ri tzinits sideiflanges, through which 'passes .a pivot pin 15, carried in brackets i-fitsecuredto the framework. Aroll'er 4 :provided on the pin l engages the inside face :of the bottom :of'thechannelioi 'lifting'ibar 1211K) minimise friction asbar it? moves *up zoridown.

rAt. or=near, the topand "bottom of .th'eab'ar fl-2zare .provided hook members i8, '1 9 which aengageii'zhe article tobe lifted 'asihereinafter totzbeasdescribed.

zPivotallyEsecure'd to zthetlever 2'91at ithe weighted :end :thereof, are :a zpair :of .linksflil, .21 iformiirgzza (toggle joint, the 'two links-being pivoted together at 22. flhelink 2 l :i-ssconstructe'cl inthe form nt a bell- 'crank the upper partthereof carrying a handle 23 and the lower end is pivoted to the ffranrework at 24. Aficheck lever 25 is provided on the framework the outer end theredf being re- .movably secured to the arm 2 l :of the toggle by means of a-removabl'e pinflh This'=leveri25 maintainsithe tOggle arms 'zll; 21" towards their aligned position when desired.

"'Theifram'ework'hasra holez 'l:intdwhich a loose pin :29 is inserted Ito limit the -upweurd lift 1 of the bar l'2,-a'nd"a fixed:pin ?l'8 toigiveia different :limit.

Re'f'erring mow ito :Eigures 511, b, 15c and 5d 5 thereference3Urepresents'the articleto belifted.

On referenceatoii ligureesa ;it wi1l*-be seen thatthe hook members I8, l9 are about to engagethetarti- :cle -30 and tin 'this :position the bar [:2 is leaning -slightly forward atthe top. 'It -will also be seen *that'the .pin 2| 51s inrpositioniat the topof'ithe slot 3M. fAt thexcommencement-of the ilift "the bar is vertical, Figure 551). In fliigure :50 'the bar has :comm'enced Zto move upwardly and finally, when the .bar "reachesa its*top'zpositiomzth-at is the positionof maximum -liftiitus leaningslightly backwards as shown in Figure 5d. This movement is caused by-pivotingthe top endiof the'b'ar 1:2 tothe lever fland forcingl=the lower 'end torpivotand fislide in the slots |4,1and oo-relating the relative :position :of the hooks :and -the part of the article t0 be lifted, with "-vthichthethooks engage.

The device is-eminentlylsuitableLfor use in liftingfifilm :set orzscenery. ISuchssets are usually :oonstructed fromaa frameworkofiba'ttens and the hook members l8, l9 are conveniently positioned ionithetba'r itolsengagera "of such:battens. CAS- ssuming .itis desired to lift and transport a film z-set, ?the mhecktliever' 2.5 5 is lpositioned as ::shown 'in ithe drawings .thereby holding the toggle farms to-- 440 awards their tali'gne'd iposition and holding the counterweight in its :uppermost position and the :bar I12 ?in:.its slowermostflposition. The device .is

then wheeled so 'that the hooks are under the :battenszas-shown in Elgure'5a. The loose pin .29 i 'placeddnthelhole 21-:andthepin26is re- ?moved ito free the atoggle 'arm :from the check lever :25.

"EEhis willallowthe' toggle arms 211, 2! to move *toktheileft :aswiewed in Figure. 2-when the handle :is depressed, th'efsaid handle at the same time :lowering athe'rcounterwe'ight IE3 thereby turning theflever 97cm it'stpi-voteandlifting the bar 1:2-until theihookS *tfisand I29 engage'thecbattens.

Fllhe counterweight =o'f r such size that it will 5 Iiitt a:predeterminedmaximumiload so:that if the may be so attached to the set piece so that the lifting force of the combined counterweights is greater than the weight of the set piece to be lifted.

By arranging the bar 12 to incline inwardly the set will have less tendency to swing or fall off the hooks l8, l9. In order to steady the set,

slightly backwards towards the framework at the top, a counterweight acting on the actuating lever to lift said lifting bar, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight to raise it when required.

4. Lifting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a lever arm carrying the counterweight has one link of a toggle pivoted thereto the other link of said toggle being pivoted to the frame below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the forwardly projecting abutments 3| are provided on the front of the frame, the front faces of which are disposed on the same vertical plane as that of the lifting bar l2. When it is desired ;to lower the set, the handle 23 is raised to move upwardly bringing the toggle levers 20, 2| towards their aligned position. This will turn the lever 9 on its pivot and lower the bar l2. Continued upward movement of the handle 23 will move the toggle levers towards their aligned position so that the check lever can be replaced. In this position the set will be resting on the floor and the hooks will be free of the battens, the device may then be removed.

Although the device has been described for use for lifting film sets or scenery, it will be understood that it is not limited to this particular purpose as articles other than film sets, such for example as temporary wall sections, or similar articles, may also be lifted thereby.

I claim:

1. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of said framework for substantially vertical movement therein, engaging means on said lifting bar for engagement with an article to be lifted, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight.

2. Lifting apparatus according to claim 1 :wherein a lever arm carrying the counterweight has one link of a toggle pivoted thereto the other link of said toggle being pivoted to' the frame below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar. I

3. Lifting apparatus including in combination the wheel base of the framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of the framework, hooks carried by said lifting bar member for engagement with the article to be lifted, said lifting bar being pivoted at its upper end to the forward end of said actuating lever, and pivoted at its lower end to the framework for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, the position of the lower pivotbeing so selected with relation to the position of the pivot connecting the lifting bar to the acuating lever that when the said lifting bar is in its lower-' most position it is leaning slightly forward away from the framework at the top, whereas when in its highest position said lifting bar is leaning counterweight can bar.

5. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical channel section lifting bar having the inside of the channel facing the frame, hook members be raised to lower the lifting carried on the outside of the channel bottom for engagement with the article to be lifted, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight.

6. Apparatus for forming film sets according to claim 5 wherein a lever arm carrying the counterweight has one link of a toggle pivoted thereto the other link of said toggle being pivoted to the frame below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar.

7. Lifting apparatus including in combination a framework, a plurality of wheels carrying said framework, a substantially horizontal actuating lever carried by said framework and fulcrummed between its ends within the horizontal area of the wheel base of the framework, a substantially vertical channel section lifting bar member having the inside of the channel facing the frame and mounted at the front of the frame, hook members carried on the outside of the channel bottom for engagement with the article to be lifted, said channel member being pivoted at its upper end to the forward end of said actuating lever, slots in the sides at the lower end of said channel member, a pivot pin carried by said frame and passing through said slots to provide vertical sliding movement for the said channel member relative to said frame, a roller carried by said pivot pin for engagement with the inside face of said channel bottom to minimise friction, the position of the lower pivot being so selected with relation to the position of the pivot connecting the channel member to the actuating lever that when the said channel member is in its lowermost position it is leaning slightly forward away from the framework at the top, whereas when in its highest position said lifting bar is leaning slightly backwards towards the framework at the top, a counterweight acting on the actuating lever to lift said lifting bar, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight to raise it when required.

- 8. Lifting apparatus including in'combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical channel section lifting bar having the inside of the channel facing the frame, hook members carried on the outside of the channel bottom for engagement with the article to be lifted, said channel having slots formed in its sides, a pivot pin carried by said frame and passing through said slots, a roller on said pivot pin engaging the inside face of the channel bottom to minimise friction, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said-lifting barthrough said leverage multiplying device, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight.

9. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of said framework for substantially vertical movement therein, engaging means on said lifting bar for engagement with an article to be lifted, abutments carried by said framework projecting forwardly to either side of said lifting bar, said abutments having flat front faces disposed in the same vertical plane as that of the lifting bar to engage and steady the article to be lifted, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight.

10. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of said framework for substantially vertical movement therein, engaging means on said lifting bar for engagement with an article to be lifted, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, a lever arm carrying the counterweight, a toggle having one. link pivoted to said lever arm, the other link of said toggle being pivoted to said framework below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight.

11. Lifting apparatus including in combination a framework, a plurality of wheels carrying said framework, a substantiall horizontal actuating lever carried by said framework and fulcrummed between its ends within the horizontal area of the Wheel base of the framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of the framework, hooks carried by said lifting bar member, for engagement with the article to be lifted, said lifting bar being pivoted at its upper end to the forward end of said actuating lever, and pivoted at its lower end to the framework for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, the position of the lower pivot being so selected with relation to the position of the pivot connecting the lifting bar to the actuating lever that when the said lifting bar is in its lowermost position it is leaning slightly forward away from the framework at the top, whereas when in its highest position said lifting bar is leaning slightly backwards towards the framework at the top, a counterweight acting on the actuating lever to lift said lifting bar, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight to raise it when required, abutments carried by said framework projecting forwardly to either side of said lifting bar, said abutments having flat front faces disposed in the same vertical plane as that of the 6 lifting bar to engage and steady the article to be lifted.

12. Apparatus for forming film sets according to claim 11 wherein a lever arm carrying the counterweight has one link of a toggle pivoted thereto the other link of said toggle being pivoted to the frame below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar.

13. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical channel section lifting bar having the inside of the channel facing the frame, hook members carried on the outside of the channel bottom for engagement with the article to be lifted, said channel having slots formed in its sides, a pivot pin carried by said frame and passing through said slots, a roller on said pivot pin engaging the inside face of the channel bottom to minimise friction, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight, abutments carried by said framework projecting forwardly to either side of said lifting bar, said abutments having flat front faces disposed in the same vertical plane as that of the lifting bar to engage and steady the article to be lifted.

14. Lifting apparatus including in combination a mobile framework, a substantially vertical lifting bar member mounted at the front of said framework for substantially vertical movement therein, engaging means on said lifting bar for engagement with an article to be lifted, a leverage multiplying device, a counterweight transmitting lifting force to said lifting bar through said leverage multiplying device, a lever arm carrying the counterweight, a toggle having one link pivoted to said lever arm, the other link of said toggle being pivoted to said framework below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar, and means for exerting force upwardly on said counterweight, abutments carried by said framework projecting forwardly to either side of said lifting bar, said abutments having flat front faces disposed in the same vertical plane as that of the lifting bar to engage and steady the article to be lifted.

15. Lifting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein a lever arm carrying the counterweight has one link of a toggle pivoted thereto the other link of said toggle being pivotedto the frame below said lever arm whereby by moving said toggle towards its straightened position the counterweight can be raised to lower the lifting bar.

JOHN CHARLES GEORGE SPELLER.

NO references Cited. 

